Install cost Blue ox base plate

[traveylin]

I had a Blue ox base plate installed today by my local car repair place for 160 dollars. I thought it was pretty reasonable and much easier than doing it my self. The repair shop is a 5 bay local owned/operated affair that I have used for about 10 years.
The blue ox degree of difficulty rating was a 3.

pops

[rockhillmanor]

Captain_Happy wrote:
Mine was cheaper than that, I installed it myself. Piece of cake.

Depends on what type of car. Some you just about have to dismantle the whole front end.

I had mine done for a whole lot more but it included all the wiring of the lights with diodes and the quick release for the brake buddy etc.

Glad I brought it in to have it done because the base plate that was listed from BlueOX for the car ended up not being the one that fit. They handled all the returns and getting the correct one. And even at that they had to retro fit it. :R

[donandmax]

Captain_Happy wrote:
Mine was cheaper than that, I installed it myself. Piece of cake.

Not on a Smartcar you have to take the whole front apart (fenders and all)Thats why I had CW do it. I'm 79 yrs, old and not going through any of that..

[Captain_Happy]

Mine was cheaper than that, I installed it myself. Piece of cake.

[traveylin]

The shop did just the base plate install. I am doing the lights. The shop foreman indicated that the installation is similar to installing frame mounted trailer hitches, just the other end of the vehicle. As I noted the Blue ox install rating as 3. the truck is a 2012 canyon.
If I had the job done at a local RV shop the price would have based on 130 dollar an hour labor compared to 50 dollar an hour car repair shop labor. A long term established local shop will also have a much lower mechanic turnover that helps quality work.

pops

[donandmax]

traveylin wrote:
I had a Blue ox base plate installed today by my local car repair place for 160 dollars. I thought it was pretty reasonable and much easier than doing it my self. The repair shop is a 5 bay local owned/operated affair that I have used for about 10 years.
The blue ox degree of difficulty rating was a 3.

pops

CW (if you buy from them) is installing mine for $39.00

[j-d]

Maybe this is the first thread about this project but without knowing what the vehicle (or base plate) is, hard to gauge the time it should take. On a lift, done by folk who've done it before, maybe at a Good Repeat Customer price... Doesn't sound like the low cost automatically means somebody cut corners. Especially if all they did was the baseplate. At least when I do a project like that, the mechanical part (like baseplate) may be laborious but it's also straightforward. Messing around with wiring is a different kind of effort and can take a lot more time than the simple-looking result might indicate.

[trop-a-cal]

It's all in the vehicle design and the time it takes to remove parts in the way. I know thread lock is specified on connecting bolts and many vehicles require drilled holes. Lights have to have diodes in line so RV power to rear lights does not go into other electrical systems of the Toad. Now follow the required directions for your vehicle before you start off as some require running the engine in forward gears then directly to N for automatics and all require the key is on in ACC so wheels track. Make sure all ACC, (accessories), are off or battery will drain. Check with your manual or ask us.

[1971duster340]

Seems that's about the same price we paid for installing one on a '13 Subaru...a Blue Ox supplier. I think it was $250 out the door including wire the lights, add a wire to charge the battery and harness. I installed the BP on an Acura the first time and learned not to again.

[rr2254545]

Good luck I hope the old saying you get what you pay for does not come true that was way to cheep